RECENT upgrades to the
Emperors Palace Convention
Centre have seen a further
1 800sqm added to the
venue’s conferencing facilities.
The Romanesque-style centre
now offers a total of 29
conferencing venues, with
capacities catering from eight
to 3 000 delegates.
State-of-the-art audio visual
equipment is available, and
delegates are provided with
free WiFi access of up to
500MB per device, per person,
per day. To increase the
comfort of delegates during
breaks or socialising, casual
seating has been set up within
the pre-assembly area of the
venue’s new conferencing
wing. What’s more, the
Convention Centre now has an
Information Centre to assist all
delegates on arrival.
Featured in the south wing,
close to the conference
venues, is the CODESA
walkway. The walkway is
beautifully preserved, and is, I
am told, the only venue in
our country where the bridge
to democracy can be found!
Also convenient is the
venue’s location close to
OR Tambo International
Airport. A complimentary
shuttle service operates
every 20 minutes, from
06h00 to 23h00 every day,
to its selection of four hotels,
ranging from the five-star
D’oreale Grande, to the
four-star Mondior, three-star
Metcourt Suites and Peermont
Metcourt. These hotels offer
a combined total of 674 airconditioned
hotel rooms within
one complex. All rooms offer
standard features such as an
electronic room safe, hairdryer,
TV, tea/coffee station, bath
and shower, except for the
Mondior, which offers either a
bath or shower.
In terms of the complex
facilities, guests have access
to the casino slots and tables,
a health spa, tennis courts,
gym facilities, live shows at
the Odeon Showbar & Theatre
of Marcellus, 14 different
restaurants, and six Nu Metro
cinemas.
When it comes to parking
facilities, there is ample
parking space close to the
convention centre. Directional
signage is clear and leaves
no room for confusion. The
complex also offers access
to Rhodesfield Gautrain
station, putting Sandton and
Pretoria within easy reach.
It operates weekdays from
05h30 to 20h30.
Once the site inspection
was over, I enjoyed a delicious
luncheon at the Galleria
restaurant – guests are
certainly spoiled for choice,
with a wide selection of
buffet dishes.
Having booked numerous
conferences and functions
at Emperors Palace over the
last few years, I can certainly
speak from experience when I
say it is definitely a venue
of choice.
The inspector
Clare Coomer, exco
committee member of
the PCO Alliance Network
and director of Network
Conferences, has been in
the conference industry
for the last 35 years.
Her career in hotels
started in Zimbabwe with
Meikles Southern Sun
Hotels, moving to South
Africa in 1981 where
she joined the Southern
Sun Hotels sales team.
Clare founded Network
Conferences in 1994.
5 things to remember when
conferencing in remote locations
1. Know your location
Confidence in your chosen location
is closely linked to knowing
exactly what it offers. Whether
through online research or a visit
to the destination prior to the
conference, you need to identify all
the restrictions or shortcomings in
services and supply beforehand.
This will allow you to plan far more
effectively. Choosing the venue is
probably one of the most important
steps in planning a conference,
and having knowledge of the
venue, its location, the weather,
accommodation facilities, parking
and attractions is crucial. Also,
make an effort to research the
customs and culture of the local
people.
2. Evaluate risks
Identify all known and potential
risks associated with an event
in a remote location and plan to
mitigate them. Consult widely when
it comes to the risk assessment
and mitigation plan, involving all the
necessary role-players.
3. Brief your guests
Brief guests and delegates well
in advance – the same goes for
suppliers. They have to be in a
position to prepare for the journey
and because they can’t just quickly
pop out to replace something left
at home it is essential they have
as much information as possible
prior to leaving home. Make sure
they have the knowledge to prepare
for the journey and stay, and offer
them practical advice on what to
expect. Although not applicable
to a local destination such as the
Drakensberg, other destinations
might require travel documents for
cross-border journeys. Inoculations
and/or prophylactics may also be
required in areas where disease is
endemic. Thorough communication
with all stakeholders in preparation
for an event held in a remote
location is most important.
4. Checklist
Never underestimate the importance
of a list. Ensure that you have
a proper checklist for collateral
(bags, ID tags, programmes, gifts/
handouts), office equipment and
supplies (everything that needs
to be transferred to the remote
location) in your event specification
guide, then have those checked off
and packed before departure. It is
good to remember when heading off
to a remote location that what’s left
behind will stay behind.
5. Take care of yourself
Remain aware of your own state
of health. Unlike conferences in a
city where someone can stand in
at a moment’s notice, when you
are in a more remote place it all
comes down to you. Remember
prescription medication and
vitamins and anything else that is
needed for your own well being. You
cannot look after others if you are
incapacitated.
Photocap: Charter the Blue train!
The Blue Train offers corporates the opportunity to tailor-make their
own Blue Train route. The train can be chartered for strategic meetings,
product launches, VIP cocktail parties, Christmas lunches, dinners and
even weddings. The Conference Car, which accommodates up to 22
delegates, is fully equipped with audio-visual and technical equipment
for a high level business meeting or a small conference.
Luxury at Capital Moloko
THE Capital Moloko conference
centre offers full conference services
with the added benefit of luxury
accommodation at affordable rates.
Equipped with cutting-edge technology,
facilities have been designed to
include natural light to create a
pleasant conferencing experience in
the heart of Sandton. The Capital
Moloko can accommodate just under
200 delegates cinema style. Rates
start at R500 per person for a fullday
package, which includes lunch
and three tea breaks, while a half-day
conference package – including lunch
and two tea breaks – costs R460
per person. A second half-day option,
with lunch and one tea break, costs
R420 per person. All packages include
conference venue hire, secure parking,
standard conference equipment,
notepads, pens and bottled water.
Test your knowledge
TRAVEL agents stand a chance to win a
trip to the Zambezi Sun in Livingstone
by signing up for and completing
Travelinfo’s online ‘Dreams – Falls
Resort Zambia’ workshop.
Agents can learn more about
conferencing on the Zambian side of
the Victoria Falls. The Falls Convention
Centre offers facilities for up to 450
delegates and is suitable for a variety
of conferences, corporate functions,
product launches, senior management
meetings, brain storming and strategy
sessions.
There are four conference venues
at the Zambezi Sun, all of which are
inter-leading, allowing for variable
sizes depending on the requirements.
There is also a business centre and
boardroom and various outdoor dining
options.
See Travelinfo for more details
Photocap: Zanzibar-style conferencing .
The Emerald Collection has attractive conference and banqueting
packages for any corporate event in Zanzibar. Full- and half-day
packages are available at the Hideaway of Nungwi Resort and Spa,
which caters for four to 180 delegates. Packages include IT support,
complimentary wireless Internet, dedicated meeting and event staff,
and catering for special dietary requirements. Parking, basic equipment,
conference stationery and basic refreshments are also supplied. Clients
should enquire about discounted spa packages for delegates. Rates
start at R471 for half-day packages or R531 for full-day meetings. The
Dream of Zanzibar Resort (pictured) offers facilities equipped with airconditioning
and WiFi services. Packages include afternoon buffet-style
coffee breaks. The resort’s conference facilities accommodate up to 140
delegates. Rates start from R355 for half-day meeting packages, while
full-day packages start at R474.
Recharge at Silverbirch
THE Birchwood Hotel and OR
Tambo Conference Centre has
introduced a ‘Recharge Package’
for corporates travelling through
OR Tambo International Airport with
lengthy stopovers, to relax at the
new Silverbirch wing of the hotel.
The Birchwood is located less than
10 minutes from the arrivals hall at
OR Tambo International and offers
hourly shuttle services. Travellers
will be able to catch up on sleep or
work at designated work stations
equipped with free Internet. The
package also grants clients access
to the hotel’s restaurants, the
swimming pool, gym facilities and
large gardens, and includes a R100
voucher for Mangwanani African Spa.
Rates start at R499 for five hours.
Book it!
African Hotels and Adventures’ Kopanong Hotel and Conference Centre in Gauteng
is running a conference special from May 1 until July 31. Conference rates are
R396 per person, while accommodation, inclusive of breakfast, is R880pppn or
R556ppspn. Dinners may be arranged at an additional R165 per person.
The group is also running a winter special on conferencing at Thakadu River Camp
in North West province. Rates start at R1 720ppspn or R2 850pppn, for a minimum
of three nights. The offer includes lunch, dinner, two game drives, bed and breakfast,
and is valid between Mondays and Thursdays from May 1-31.
